Selectively Juggling

My favourite hobbies are definitely writing (I’m an aspiring novelist), photography (I aspire to have a photography exhibition) and gardening. With gardening I enjoy time in nature, the physicality of hardcore gardening and the fact that I’m helping to produce fruit and vegetables. I am also creating a backyard that is brimming with birds, bees and butterflies. I want it to be aesthetically beautiful, but more importantly have real depth and substance. My garden is my homage to my dad, who passed away 6 years ago. He was an avid backyard gardener with incredible green thumbs. Gardening for him was about feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin, hear the laugh of the kookaburras and the ability to share the literal fruits of his labour. Gardening became a language of love for him, and he would gift all of us with baskets full of green goodness.

I also like baking when I have extra time too. We are gluten free, dairy and egg free, so I’ve learned to be creative with my baking. Again, like my other hobbies I derive great satisfaction and enjoyment in the actual process involved, the feel of the camera in my hand, hands in soil, sounds of connecting ideas with keystrokes. With baking it is also a highly sensory experience, touch, smell and taste. I delight in sharing my freshly baked gluten free bread, buns and bagels with my kids who basically hover around me as I create. All of these become quite meditative, as I find myself in a state of flow.